Hyundai Elantra 2001-2006

vocus

Just because you have been with a company for however many years doesn't mean you are getting the best price. I read a report in Consumer Reports about that. People feel "safe" with their insurance company, and don't shop around for decades. They could be saving literally hundreds a year with another company. They said something along the lines that you should shop for insurance every 2-3 years to get the best price.

hjr2

both spouse and I pay $1011 a year,full coverage, and that is with a speeding ticket this past year. Both between 34-44 age group. Oh, and an accident 2 years ago, so 3 points on one car.

All State. The new agent we have, though, is kind of not very good, to say the least, but the rates are still lower than when we had State Farm or Geico.

This is in S.W. Ohio area,FYI.

lokanna

In FL the limit on the interstates is 75, I was only doing 5 over, and um... it was down hill... and...uhhhh.. the wind was behind me, yeah, that's it!

Honestly, I don't drive erratic at all, maybe 15mph late at night when I'm on the roads alone, other than that, I try to keep it at 5 over, max.

Hell in DE, it's impossible to speed, there's so much traffic =(

backy

For anyone interested in what is being done by Hyundai Motors America about the Elantra's "Poor" score in the IIHS offset crash test, there is a thread going on right now in the "Hyundai is the greatest car line available to the public" board about this issue. A gentleman from Hyundai in Korea has offered there, through the member name site815, to take opinions about Hyundais back to the company. That offer has generated quite a bit of traffic. Check out #1162 (also some previous posts) for a summary of Hyundai's view of the problem and the actions they have already taken in Korea to address the front seat mounting problem. It also looks like HMA is planning to take some action soon on this issue.

jmatero

I test drove a 5-speed last night and was a little concerned about something... When depressing the clutch (and releasing the gas) the engine seemed to rev. I found I had to release the gas pedal for a couple of seconds and ten depress the clutch to change gears. My old Subaru had this problem. Do all elantras do this? If they do I'm getting an automatic as I find it impossible to quickly change gears without the engine surging between shifts.

jlflemmons

But, remember that the engine control system has to learn your driving habits, so it may only be a temporary issue. Try driving another vehicle and see if it does the same thing.

Jim

jlflemmons

But, remember that the engine control system has to learn your driving habits, so it may only be a temporary issue. Try driving another vehicle and see if it does the same thing.

Jim

jimbeaumi

No 5-speed problems on my '01 GLS. And the engine control only needs to "learn" driving habits with the automatic.

backy

My '01 GLS had a bit of a problem with revving while shifting for a few weeks when it was relatively new (but not when brand new). I took it to the dealer and they said a software update to the computer was due out soon. I never took it back because the problem disappeared on its own a couple of days later and has not returned.

backy

Have you noticed the new GT sedan costs the same as the hatchback? Although the sedan has a spoiler, I'm surprised. I thought the hatch would cost more to manufacture, and other automakers typically charge more for the 5-door hatch variant than for the sedan.

edovid

I noticed the prices were the same, as well as being $150.00 higher. Also, cruise and keyless are now bundled as an option called the "Convenience package", although there is no price information given. Under "Build your own" the only 2003 offered is the Tiburon.

backy

The pricing configurator on Edmunds.com has the 2003 Elantra pricing and packages in it, including the new GT sedan. The "convenience package" is package 2, costs $400 MSRP (same as before).

jjpcat

Has anyone checked if the current 2.0l engine has a smaller horsepower than the advertised 140hp?

vocus

I think it does, because Hyundai is giving extended warranties, etc. for this. Check the GT hatchbacks forum, they were discussing in there the last time I was there.

phillygls

this horsepower issue.

backy

for me. I checked my Elantra's VIN on the page that Hyundai set up on www.hyundaiusa.com and found out my '01 Elantra GLS is not affected.

jimbeaumi

Like Backy, I too checked my VIN, and my Elantra isn't affected. Actually, it might have lower horsepower than rated, but not a high enough percentage difference to qualify for bonus miles. An overstatement of either four or five percent (I forgot what/where I read) qualifies for compensation.

jxs81

for my 01 GLS either. It seems like they chose 4% as cutoff just to avoid compensating all the Elantra owners(3.7%) . I don't care the difference of 5hp. However, a mistake is a mistake.

jimbeaumi

Back from another Chicago day trip, and my GLS just rolled 19K trouble-free miles. I thought I had picked up just the faintest new noise in the driver door, a very very light buzzing. Turns out it was the empty can I left in the door.

As for horsepower, I still zoomed past just about everyone on the roads. I really couldn't care less what the posted number is -- there is plenty of power in my little car.

olcrock

i have a 02 elantra gls,purchesed in feb this year. we love the car. also,really enjoy this board! i have a question: how much horsepower do i have now??? i'm guessing 135. is that right? tia.

backy

That's an easy question. Your Elantra has as much horsepower as it had yesterday, the day before yesterday, the day before that, and so on. Not taking into account variations due to fuel quality, engine tune, etc. If you want to find out just how much horsepower it has on a given day, you could take it to someplace that has a dynamometer. Otherwise, relax and enjoy your Elantra!

bartbikerw

I think, that if the company is giving extended warranties for all the more expensive cars (i.e. sonata), elantra should get it too. After all they false advertised and not us. I know that I still have the same horsepower that I had when I bought the car, but it is their responsibility to couble check their numbers. We should get some voting going on and send it to hyundai.

jlflemmons

It is very difficult to give a consistant horsepower rating across several thousand engines. That a Hyundai 2.0 is rated at 135 or 140 is really of little consequence as you could take 100 of the engines and put the same fuel in them and get a variety of power ratings. Now, if we had engines that were rated for, say, 165HP and they consistently dyno'ed at 135, I would agree that there was a legal issue. But any assembly that has that many moving parts, at different altitudes, humidity, and temperature is going to have a bell curve rating. Such a curve would put the majority of engines at *about* 140, with some at 135 and,yes, some at maybe 145. The average would be 140ish Either way, my Elantra runs very good. When cooler weather hits we each will notice an improvement in performance and gas mileage from the lack of A/C drag and heavier density of the cooler air. Wait until you get a really cold day where the humidity is close to 100% but not raining. Forget zoom-zoom, more like yeehaw!

vocus

Found a 2001 Elantra GLS automatic, no other options. Car has 21.5K miles on it, is the teal blueish color, VERY clean. Price is $7995 plus TTL. My best friend wants the car, because he wrecked his 1997 Sentra this past Saturday and needs an economical ride.

We both test drove the car, and he loves it. The alignment was a good deal off, and I felt a shudder. I told the dealer to have the tires balanced (read here that gets rid of the shudder) and have the alignment done as well. The brakes felt a little weak to me as well, but I have a Jetta and its brakes are extremely light to the touch. Anyway, I also asked them to check the brakes on the car as well, just to be safe.

I was surprised this car was priced so low. I have this feeling that it was in an accident or something, but the body is perfect on it and all paint matches. I will might run a Carfax just to be safe...

backy

The shudder raises red flags for me, as does the "perfect" body. A two year old car with 21k miles should have some kind of flaw, like little parking lot dings or small paint chips in the front end. Look for signs of a full paint job, e.g. overspray on gaskets or trim, slighly different color in inner door jambs and the trunk. The brakes may just be the difference between the Elantra's brakes and the Jetta--the Elantra has a progressive brake feel, they don't grab right away, but they shouldn't feel "weak". Did you check the wear on the brakes? Does the car have maintenance records?

lokanna

I can't comment on the brakes because my GLS has ABS, but at least for me, they are tight, however, you may check the brake fluid and / or wear on the pads. Also, I'd definately run a free carfax report, it will tell you if there's anything major reported. On thing also to ask is how many owners has that particular GLS have? Reason I ask is because if memory serves me correctly, the Powertrain warrenty can be transferred to a second owner for 5 yrs / 50000 miles. I may be wrong, but if it qualifies, that might make your friend feel a bit safer for it.

vocus

I checked the Carfax preliminary report on the car, and it says there are 5 records about it. That seems like an awful lot for a car that's only 1 year old, especially since brand new cars only have 2. Since it was sold to the dealer, it would have 3. I wanna know what the other 2 records are...

vocus

The warranty is the main reason (besides price) that I told him about this car. It's got a longer basic warranty (even cut in half) than anything else we looked at. I am suspicious about the Carfax preliminary (see above post), and why this car is only $7999. That's awful cheap, I think...

I know the alignment was pretty well off when I drove it. I let go on flat highway, and it drifted pretty good right, like the alignment was way off. Yet the tires are not balding or anything. Weird. I am trying to talk my friend into getting the Carfax report, but he is skeptical. I hope he does, because it concerns me that there are 5 records on an almost-new car.

backy

To my knowledge, the powertrain warranty is not transferrable to anyone except within the owner's immediate family. The 5-year, 60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty is completely transferrable, so the car still has lots of warranty left.

Re drifting to the right... I've heard one reason for that kind of drifting is a bent unibody. One way to check on that is to have someone drive the car through a puddle slowly, very straight, and see how the tire tracks line up.

buoyant

That '01 for $7995 could be a former rental. From what I've seen, rental cars generate a lot of Carfax records.

But you gotta figure, the rental car co. buys it, then sells it back to the manufacturer, which in turn sells at an auction. That's 3 changes of ownership right there.

It might also explain the pull to the right. If you've ever rented a car (and who hasn't?), you know how those things are driven (not well). I would never drive my own car the way I've driven cars I've rented and would bet most others share a similar sentiment.

brentcadle

I own a 2001 Elantra....I would share your concern about the price/alignment. I have 61,000 miles on my original Michelin tires and have not had to have an alignment yet. However, I recently worked for a major car dealer and there is a possibility that they gave someone very little for that car on trade(even if the person thought they gave him alot) and that they simply don't have much in it. My car rough book trade-in value is $5929, alot of that is due to miles, but it's not that far off from what a dealer might actually have in that car.....Just a thought.

vocus

I just found it surprising that this car was that cheap. I mean the miles are low, it's in good shape, and it's still $7995. I expected it to be at least $2000 higher, but glad it's not.

Going to get the car today. My best friend is all excited, because he's getting his new car.

Thanks to all of you for your help. I will keep you all updated on how the car handles, holds up, etc. over the next few years.

bartbikerw

I personally think that they price is just average for the year and miles. For 2500 more you can buy a brand new Elantra so I don't think this is any great deal. Plus, when I used to buy new cars I never bought from a dealer because they can cover anything perfectly and you'll never know what you are buyting.

vocus

We went today to pick up the car, and drive it once more to see if they fixed the brakes. We took it on I-95, up to about 80mph. He drove it 5 miles, and I drove it the other 5. The car shaked violently on the highway, I mean to the point where I almost lost control.

We went back to the lot, and told them it needed new rotors or a resurfacing job. My friend was not comfortable driving the car after that, and didn't want it.

We ended up getting him a 2000 Toyota Echo with 35.8K miles on it, for $7899. He likes the car alot. Too bad, because I thought the Hyundai would have been a nice car. It came down to his preference, since he was paying for the car.

jimbeaumi

The car shook when you were travelling down the freeway? That wouldn't be rotors, unless you were braking on the freeway. That kind of shaking at speed is wheel balance or alignment. Just out of curiosity, I would like to know if any of the balance weights might be missing.

vocus

I don't know, I didn't check the car. The tires were probably out of balance then, as well as the rotors being bad. The brakes made an awful sound when hitting them at around 75mph. Really made me feel unsafe to drive the car.

Also, I noticed I really had to hit the brake pedal when stopping, almost all the way down it felt like. Do all Elantras exhibit this characteristic? I drove the car for my friend, because I know alot more about cars than he does, and it felt very disconcerting.

If I had the brakes that hard in my Jetta, I would have thrown both of us through the windshield...

backy

No, you don't have to put the pedal all the way to the floor to get an Elantra to stop. Looks like you made the right decision in passing up that "bargain".

jimbeaumi

I agree with backy: "bargain" in quotes is the only way to describe it. If my Elantra exhibited all those problems it would mean I have never had it serviced. What a pity that particular one is so run down. I hope your friend does not see that as a Hyundai problem so much as it is a maintenance problem.

vocus

When I was on the highway and stepped on the brakes, he decided then and there he didn't want the car. It made a very loud noise, and like I said I had to almost floor the brake pedal to get the car stopped.

I thought the car was well maintained. I checked the oil, it was a little dark but not too bad. It wasn't fresh med. brown like I thought it should have been though. The engine was clean and spotless though. So was the interior and exterior.

My friend doesn't know the difference between one car or the other. That's why I went with him to get the car. He just knows to get in, put in the key, and go. Also, he does the oil changes and all on them as well.

He is very happy with the Echo though, he said. Also, he drives alot for work, so I think the better mileage will be good for him.

desg

Dealers usually will ensure the car is clean - steam clean the engine is pretty normal and they like to make the inside and outside look good too.

The vibration was most likely wheel balance, alignment problems tend to create a pull to one side.

I suspect the car need some work on it

jlflemmons

... there was definitely something wrong. My Elantra has really good brakes that are both strong and easy to modulate. Sounds like the pads were gone on the one you drove.

vocus

I know the rotors were gone, hence the very strong shudder when braking and the shudder at higher speeds. I have had rotors go on 2 separate cars before, so I know what it feels like.

Anyway, it felt very disconcerting to have to almost floor the brake pedal to stop the car when I was only doing about 40mph. I have driven an Accent before, and thought I had to push the pedal way down to stop as well. Maybe it's a Hyundai thing, I don't know.

mike91326

Was this Elantra being sold by a dealer? You would think that they would prep the car (new pads, turn the rotors, balance, etc.) before offering it for sale.

vocus

Yes, the car was at a dealer. My friend and I drove the car on Wednesday night, and decided that would be the one he wanted. I talked to the guy on Saturday, asking him if the car was prepped and all, and he said yes. They hadn't even washed it by the time we got there!

Then (get this) the dealer manager was there, and said he handled all service and the Hyundai hadn't gone to the shop. I told him to his face we would have walked out except that my friend's rental was due back, and he needed a car quickly. I told my friend right in front of the dealer that I would lend him my car to use too, so he knew we were ready to walk.

He got the Echo instead, but it does have less equipment. He likes the car alot though, and that's what matters to him. Also, he got it for less than the Hyundai ($7899 for a 2000 Echo, auto and AC only, 35.8K miles), which is trade-in value. So I think he got a good deal on the car.

jimbeaumi

Again, enough people have said this is not a Hyundai thing. Me too: I have great brakes since day one, and now closing in on 20K miles in 14 months or so. I blame the dealer for bad prep job. Bad dealer! Bad bad dealer!!

lokanna

I just got back from taking my fiancee's 2001 Corolla S to get an oil change. She has 15k miles and never had any problems serious problems with it (a busted rear defrost strip and faulty AC blower, both repaired under warrenty). After driving her car again I can say that my 02 GLS w/ ABS has a stronger brake pedal than hers, which makes me think that that particular Elantra had some braking issues like you thought. Probably better that you went for the Echo rather than the Elantra, even though I personally can't stand the look of those lil' cars Hope your friend has good luck with it.

buoyant

I know the Echo gets really good mileage, but I've been amazed by the mileage I've been getting with my Elantra 5spd thus far (and as an added plus, I don't get my economy by having to drive a jacked-up fez on four wheels). It's much better than the EPA estimated 25/33.

Since I've been taking readings (about 2,000 miles into my ownership - it now has 23K on it), I've been averaging 34 - and that's mostly heavy stop-and-go commuting if you can believe it.

On a trip this spring, I managed 43mpg on one tankful. Perhaps I got a good (great) one?

vocus

That's also a stick shift. My friend can't drive stick.

He was talking to me last night on the phone, saying he wished the Echo had a clock. It is really stripped, it has nothing. He bought a Cd changer for it, and is thinking about having power windows and locks installed too. It already came with an alarm system, so that's cool.

He really does like the car. I was surprised at the brakes, and the fact that the car only had 21.5K miles on it.

vocus

I checked the value on both cars on NADAGuides.com. The Hyundai is worth about the same as the ECHO, even though the Echo is 1 year older with 15K more miles and alot less equipment.

Too bad Hyundais haven't caught on in the US yet, they are pretty good cars.

jimbeaumi

Hyundai hasn't caught on? They will probably pass Volkswagen in sales this year.